Discectomy for Sciatica

A discectomy for sciatica is a type of invasive surgical procedure in which part of a herniated or ruptured disc is removed from the body. This procedure is often recommended for patients with an MRI or CT scan verified herniated disc which is suspected of compressing a lumbar nerve root. There are many varieties of disc removal operation and it is truly one of the most common surgical interventions for sciatica pain.

What is a Discectomy for Sciatica?

Discectomy is a category of sciatica surgery which is used to remove offending bulges or ruptures of spinal discs. These herniations are most often blamed for causing radicular pain by compressing a nerve root as it leaves the spinal column. This process is medically termed foraminal stenosis, but is commonly called a pinched nerve. The disc bulge might also be blamed for pressuring the spinal cord or cauda equina instead, and in this case, the process is called spinal stenosis. Many patients are told this is what is occurring when their MRI result reads “impingement or infringement on the thecal sac” but this is completely incorrect. Contact with the thecal sac alone does not indicate any neurological effects are enacted at all…

Types of Discectomy for Sciatica

The traditional procedure is a full open surgery which is performed through incisions in the back. The most invasive of these techniques might also include a full laminectomy to remove pieces of vertebral bone, as well as pieces of the affected disc. Minimally invasive discectomy procedures (often called microdiscectomy or microendoscopic discectomy) can be performed without doing so much damage to healthy spinal tissues. These procedures are certainly advised for anyone even considering disc surgery as an option for sciatica treatment.

Discectomy for Sciatica Advice

This is definitely not the worst of the spinal operations (that honor goes to spinal fusion… ), but it is still virtually unnecessary in the vast majority of back pain cases. Up to 95% of all back surgeries are not needed and most patients could and should be treated non-surgically. Spinal surgery generally offers poor results for permanent pain resolution and often makes the symptoms far worse and the damage, unfortunately, sometimes irreparable. Every week, I get letters from patients suffering from failed sciatica surgery syndrome, who are asking for advice. I hate to say it, but once the damage is done, the options are sometimes very limited… I just wish I could speak to these same people BEFORE they made the fateful decision to undergo surgery for their sciatica…

Ok, just to make this article super clear… Here it is…

You probably DO NOT need surgery. Your surgeon may have advised surgery, but do not be surprised. They are surgeons… That is what they do!!!

Surgery might help and then again it might not. It might make things a whole lot worse. Be very careful. If you do decide to proceed, try to use a minimally invasive form of discectomy to lessen the chances of permanent injury to your spine and musculature.

Discectomy for Sciatica to Sciatica Home
12/30/08 Revised 12/16/09